Division 5 Map
Elected to represent Division 5 (Bargara and Innes Park North) in March 2024, Larine has called the Bundaberg Region home on-and-off since the age of 16, and is proud to be raising her two young sons here with her husband, Dr Charles Blair.
After graduating from Kepnock State High School, she moved to Brisbane to study a Bachelor of Journalism. Larine started her career as a newspaper reporter in Roma and Bundaberg, where her rounds included Local Government, agriculture and the Courts.
Going on to work as a correspondent for Australian Associated Press (AAP), both around the country and overseas, Larine covered some of the biggest news events of the decade. In 2010, she was named AAP Reporter of the Year.
Larine worked as a senior media and policy advisor in the Queensland and Federal Parliaments, including three years for the Queensland Treasurer and Minister for Trade. She actively assisted local politicians, businesses, and industries to promote Bundaberg and attract investment to the region, including bringing various stakeholders together to create the HMAS Tobruk Military Dive Wreck.
Larine volunteered as the community representative on Council's Iconic Events Advisory Commitee, and served as a Board Director of Bundaberg Tourism for several years. She is an alumni of the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation and Governance Institute of Australia.
In 2020, Larine co-founded the quarterly local lifestyle publication, Crush Magazine, to shine a positive light on the Bundaberg Region. Together, Larine and her husband established Kaleidoscope Skin Cancer Clinic, which they sold in mid 2024.
Larine is a keen scuba diver, who loves camping, drawing, painting, reading and gardening. Her pride and joy is a 1964 EH Holden Wagon that she lovingly restored with her late father.
Register of Interests - Cr Larine Statham-Blair(PDF, 222KB)